ELSEWHERE ON THE GTP NETWORK:

Former “Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron is defending anti-gay comments made on Piers Morgan Tonight. During an interview on the show Friday, Cameron called homosexuality “unnatural,” “detrimental” and “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.” Cameron’s anti-gay remarks fueled a huge backlash from the gay community and their supporters.

During his interview with Piers Morgan, Cameron also said that if he found out one of his sons was gay, he would not accept it or tell him it was okay. “I wouldn’t say ‘That’s great, son, as long as you’re happy.’ I’m going to say, There are all sorts of issues we need to wrestle through in our life. Just because you feel one way doesn’t mean we should act on everything we feel,” Cameron said.

The former child star’s anti-gay commentary sparked a strong response from the gay community. “Saying that gay people are ‘detrimental to civilization’ might be ‘loving’ in Kirk Cameron’s mind, but it’s gay youth and victims of bullying who truly suffer from adults like Cameron who espouse these ideas,” Gays and Lesbians Against Defamation said in a press statement. “Obviously, Cameron has the right to recite his anti-gay talking points, just like fair-minded Americans have the right to tell him that his views are harmful and have no place in modern America.”

Kirk Cameron has no plans to apologize for what he believes was a perfectly acceptable exercise of his freedom of speech and religion.

“I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community. That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people,” Kirk Cameron told ABC News in response to the outrage over his comments about homosexuality.

“I should be able to express moral views on social issues,” Cameron said, “especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.”

“I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect,” he said, before adding, “I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally).”

Gay friends, really? Hmmmmm. Either they must hate themselves a LOT to be friends with this guy, or… well, you know what they say about ‘straight’ people who spend so much time obsessing over gays … Let’s not forget this is the same Kirk Cameron who co-starred in an evangelical video about why a banana was proof that evolution was a bunch of BS. Yes, a banana … and frankly, the whole video was so flaming, you’d think they should be playing “It’s Raining Men” as a background soundtrack.

Cameron garnered the support of Stephen Baldwin, an evangelical Christian, who appeared on HLN’s “Showbiz Tonight” to say: “What he means is the nuclear family is the origin of what this country was founded on. … So there is marriage between a man and a woman … and that’s obviously changing.”

The former “Growing Pains” star’s acting family was not quite so supportive in their responses to the actor’s commentary. Tracey Gold posted on Twitter that she is a “strong supporter of the #LGBT Community, and I believe in equal rights for all. #NOH8 #LOVE”

Alan Thicke posted: “I’m getting him some new books. The Old Testament simply can’t be expected to explain everything,” and “I love Kirk but I may have to spank him…’tho not in a gay way!”